“Young Guns” Youth Racing Division to Debut at Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Safety courses, driving school, races to be offered for aspiring racers age 10-14
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WEST HAVEN, VT – Stock car racing’s youth movement has a new home in Rutland County, as Devil’s Bowl Speedway has announced the formation of the new Young Guns division. The new class, sponsored by NEK Trophy, will utilize the same rules used in the track’s Portland Glass Mini Stock division and will offer supervised safety and driving instructions and real on-track racing experience for drivers age 10-14.
The Young Guns division has been created after three years of research and discussion with parties in the racing industry and beyond. After receiving requests from several local families to consider a youth racing division, Devil’s Bowl Speedway owners Mike and Alayne Bruno got hands-on experience when their own son, who was 10 years old at the time, raced with a similar division in New Hampshire.
The Brunos have since worked closely with insurance regulators and Vermont government officials to create a structured program that allows young racers to compete in a safe, controlled environment. Mandatory “school” sessions will be held at the track, and all aspiring Young Guns drivers must pass safety procedure and car control tests before being approved for competition.
“We have wanted a division like the Young Guns for a while, but all the pieces needed to be in the right place,” Alayne Bruno said. “We wanted to see this division from the viewpoint of the parents first, and then we went to work with the State of Vermont to get the proper approval.”
Devil’s Bowl Speedway officials took part in several hearings at the Vermont State House in Montpelier regarding lowering the legal age limit in Vermont race track pit areas to 10 years old.
“We approached the State from the position that we’re trying to build the interest in our sport from an early age, and we were able to run a successful test race in September 2013,” Mike Bruno said. “The lawmakers were receptive and even noted that kids are allowed to take hunter’s safety courses and carry firearms in the woods at age 10. The bill was passed and took effect on July 1, 2014, but even then we still felt that we needed to take our time and get the work done behind the scenes before we started racing.”
A schedule of school dates and race events for the NEK Trophy Young Guns division will be released in the near future. Families with questions regarding the Young Guns division are encouraged to contact Devil’s Bowl Speedway via email at devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com or by telephone at (802) 265-3112.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s 49th season of stock car racing opens with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series on Saturday, May 9. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
Sources: Justin St. Louis/Devil’s Bowl Speedway PR
PHOTO: Devil’s Bowl Speedway has created the new NEK Trophy “Young Guns” division and instruction school for racers age 10-14. A successful test race in 2013 saw Alexis Aiken (center) win over Tyler Tewksbury (right) and Xander Emerson. (MemorEvents photo)